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After the truth had came out, and Sunny had moved away. All of his friends had forgiven him, they all kept in close contact, all insisting that they wanted to meet up again, and hang out —just like old times.
And that, they did.
Once Sunny had returned back to Faraway Town for his annual visit — which was only a mere hour or two away anyway — he made sure to come over to Kel’s house. The group had agreed through a shared call together that they’d have a sleepover once Sunny finally visited. Hero couldn’t come though, he was busy with college and his medical studies. But he was there in spirit.
Aubrey sat on the carpet floor, messing around and teasing the group, along with Basil who sat across from her, also chiming in with new and interesting stories he had, also updates on his health and how he was doing a lot better as of late. Kel however, rambled on about his endless basketball matches, how he was super excited to see Sunny again, and reminiscing the old comics they all used to read afterschool.
Sunny sat on Kel’s bed, smiling softly, as he listened intently to hear everyone else’s inputs and thoughts for the past few months. He was at peace, he felt content just being around his dear friends. He knew Mari would be so proud of him at this very moment.
Kel turns towards Sunny, as he grinned widely.
“Sunny, how’s life away in the big city man? I know you said you were anxious n’ all, but after a while, what’s your thoughts? Did it get better?” Kel seemed genuinely intrigued, as both Aubrey and Basil seemed curious too, their previous conversations coming to a halt as they awaited Sunny’s response.
Sunny took a moment to process this question, as he nodded, letting out a mumble, “I’m not sure, it’s rather loud, and full of traffic —unlike Faraway Town. But overall, I’ve gotten more used to it.”
Aubrey spoke, “Oh? Well, to be honest I expected you to absolutely hate it.” She chuckled, poking fun at him.
Sunny looks away, letting out a soft quiet chuckle, “I suppose I would’ve.”
“If only I had one of those disposable cameras to capture this moment together, wouldn’t it be fun?” Basil smiled.
Kel’s eyes lit up expectantly as he grinned, “Yeah! It so would’ve! —Gosh, I should’ve had that idea, you’re so good at ideas.. and stuff.. man!”
Basil chuckled, blushing slightly from Kel’s overexcited reaction as he replied modestly, “Thanks Kel, I suppose I am.”
Aubrey interrupted the conversation, quipping in with a silly remark, and tease, as the three continued with a different topic. The conversations shifting elsewhere, as the three continued on with a friendly and bubbly atmosphere, filled with jokes and healthy reminiscences. They discussed what they’re up to now, how crazy it is to be almost graduating, and how life feels so much more comfortable from all the other things back then. Sunny felt at ease, he felt as if he started a new chapter in his life, not when he told the truth, but the aftermath of his confession. Sunny knew what he really missed was these experiences, these carefree and gentle moments that just are irreplaceable, things you can’t buy for the world.
After a while, it grew late, as Aubrey and Basil comfortably tucked themselves into their customised sleeping bags they had prepared previously beforehand.
Aubrey’s sleeping bag was pink with a few stitches sewn in of poorly filled in hearts, space-themed stickers, some cotton candy and other sweet-themed stickers, as well as a few holes that were made within her sleeping bag, since it was rather old and damaged. She didn’t really buy a new one, but she liked the one she had just as it was.
Basil’s on the other hand, was more green and earthy-coloured much expressing his love for nature, it was more simplistic, but it had sewn in drawings of all his friends. A black cat for Sunny, a basketball for Kel, a baseball bat with bows sewn in for Aubrey, and a chef hat with sparkles for Hero. it was just the way he liked it. Comfortable, simple, yet full of meaning and memories.
Sunny had forgotten to bring a sleeping bag, since he was so carried away with what other things he should pack on his way to visit Faraway Town again, it didn’t cross his mind he needed to bring a sleeping bag of his own, so Kel being Kel let Sunny rest on his bed for the night. The two didn’t mind of course, since the group had long known of their closeness and tight bond with each-other.
As Kel tucked Sunny into bed, he chuckled as he turns to the others, “Well, I suppose it’s time to kiss my homie good night.” He grinned.
Aubrey let out a laugh, “Pfft! Really?”
Kel nodded, serious in his statement as he turned to Sunny, as he leaned in to plant a seemingly platonic kiss on Sunny’s cheek, before Sunny turned to the side, making Kel plant a kiss on Sunny’s lips.
Kel didn’t pull back until a few seconds later, as he realised what absolutely sinful act he had done, as he let out a gasp.
“AH! TH-THAT WASN’T WHAT I MEANT!” He frantically tried to explain his fault, trying to prove that he was in fact trying to kiss Sunny’s cheek.
Basil saw this exchange, as he tilted his head.
“I-I swear! I’m not gay or anythin’, you gotta believe me!” He was blushing like a tomato, his eyes darting across the room as he tried to desperately prove his obvious ‘heterosexuality’, alas to a fault. As he seemed to realise that the others, especially Sunny, were not believing him.
Kel turned to Sunny, “M-Man! Hear me out, uhm.. five second rule! It didn’t count.”
Sunny tilted his head, “That’s for food Kel, not kissing.”
Kel covered his face with his hands as he blurted out incoherent jumbles of words, before finally letting out a coherent sentence, his face still beet red and covered by his trembling hands. “I-It was an accident! I didn’t mean to kiss you.. —I’m not even gay!”
Aubrey chimed in, “Maybe you are.”
Kel shook his head, arguing against it, “I’m not! I’m into.. women! Stop making me out to be gay!” He snapped back, seemingly uncertain of his own words despite his desperation to prove the others wrong.
Basil laughed at this, “Kel, it doesn’t matter if you’re gay. We won’t hate you.” He let out a teasing smile, as he continued, “We’re all queer, Kel.”
Kel shook his head, repeatedly trying to prove to the group that he was straight, he was mainly trying to convince himself more than anything.
“But… but I’m not!” He whined, trying to desperately change the notion that was being put in place, Kel was coming out of the closet way sooner than he preferred to.
“But you held onto that kiss for a few seconds.” Sunny looks at Kel, as he sat up, the blanket still draped halfway over him.
Kel’s face turned even more impossibly red, as his ears heat up with more intensity, he stammered trying to come up with a defence, a rebuttal of sorts, to prove his innocence, to prove the fact that he was not in fact one of them queers. But it all proved to be worthless as he looked down towards the carpeted floor, fists clenched by his sides as he took a deep breath, mumbling what could only be the most well-known and obvious fact of the century.
“…Maybe.. maybe I am gay.” Kel muttered, underneath his breath.
“What? Didn’t catch that?” Aubrey smirked, pulling out a camcorder.
“I said I’m gay, I like boy— WAIT! What is that?!” Kel pointed to the camcorder as he desperately tried to reach out for it.
“A camcorder, and I just recorded your comin’ out for us to remember forever!” Aubrey grinned, moving the camera out of Kel’s grasp, as Kel desperately tried to tug at it and delete the footage, but it was all too late.
Basil couldn’t help but giggle, as he watched the scene unfold.
Sunny let out a soft chuckle, as he looks at Kel, speaking again, “It’s fine Kel, we all knew it, but..” He mumbles trailing off slightly before he continued, “I’m especially happy to hear it.”
Kel stops in his tracks, as he turns over to Sunny, a glint of hope in his eyes as he mumbles, “Wait.. you.. you’re happy to know.. I like boys?”
Sunny nodded, “Well yeah, that’s why I kissed you.”
The other boy couldn’t help but let out a dorky grin as he moved over to Sunny, embracing him tightly, squeezing him to no ends as he smiled. “Mann! You’re so cheesy!” He laughed teasing Sunny, continuing to squeeze his best buddy, or more well-known as ‘Kel’s Crush’ for the past decade.
Aubrey and Basil watched, as Aubrey just rolled her eyes in mock-disgust and annoyance, but she actually was happy for the two, she made sure to use this moment to hide the camcorder in her backpack though. — Basil on the other hand, was smiling softly as he watched this tender and sentimental moment between the two boys.
You could feel Mari’s spirit in that room too, cheering the two on, as even the floors glistened with a soft rainbow-ish hue, it was as if even Mari was intentionally lightening the atmosphere with stereotypically gay references. This feels like a strange pun.
Finally, when the two had hugged it out, Kel reluctantly pulled back, smiling as he sat down on the edge of the bed, properly as he looks towards Sunny with a soft and affectionate gaze,
“So.. wanna give that kiss a proper try?” He grinned.